Skin Deep

Skin Deep, my animated short film, is spontaneous, reckless and always provocative! As a psychological exploration, I seek unpredictable results as my motivation. Once I come up with an idea, I conquer all obstacles to make it happen. As Director Rama Ellen says, “Live loudly and do things you are not comfortable with.”
I grew up in Beijing, a city that overloads the senses. My response to that environment was to observe and experiment whenever possible. I studied experimental animation in college and this experience encouraged my passion for the unpredictable. I view “maybe” as a better option than “never”.
My work explores detailed visual motifs influenced by tattoo flash designs and body art. As I began my research for a story based on the distinct culture of tattooing, I spent weeks in the library reading about its history. Tattooing one’s skin is a form of visual communication. Similar to a painter, I see my skin as a canvas.
As I developed the narrative and gritty visual style for Skin Deep, I wove together inspirations from varied sources, including the preserved tattooed skins on exhibit in a Japanese museum, and the bizarre bone, skin and wood furnishings in the home of American killer Ed Gein. My film about a killer, who collects exquisitely tattooed skins for exhibition in his home, is a visual collage enhanced by my precise attention to detail. The results showcase my strong sense of visual observation and adventurous mind.